diff --git a/doc/03-cli.md b/doc/03-cli.md
index 49879d54d..8cfd5cac0 100644
--- a/doc/03-cli.md
+++ b/doc/03-cli.md
@@ -259,6 +259,10 @@ match the platform requirements of the installed packages. This can be used
 to verify that a production server has all the extensions needed to run a
 project after installing it for example.
 
+Unlike update/install, this command will ignore config.platform settings and
+check the real platform packages so you can be certain you have the required
+platform dependencies.
+
 ## global
 
 The global command allows you to run other commands like `install`, `remove`, `require`
diff --git a/src/Composer/Command/CheckPlatformReqsCommand.php b/src/Composer/Command/CheckPlatformReqsCommand.php
index de7f4b4d3..8ce0b0186 100644
--- a/src/Composer/Command/CheckPlatformReqsCommand.php
+++ b/src/Composer/Command/CheckPlatformReqsCommand.php
@@ -34,6 +34,8 @@ class CheckPlatformReqsCommand extends BaseCommand
                 <<<EOT
 Checks that your PHP and extensions versions match the platform requirements of the installed packages.
 
+Unlike update/install, this command will ignore config.platform settings and check the real platform packages so you can be certain you have the required platform dependencies.
+
 <info>php composer.phar check-platform-reqs</info>
 
 EOT